By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, June 26: The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) today observed the International Day in Support of Torture Victims and screened the first cut of a documentary film titled “Through flesh and bones” (Sha Sed Rue La Ma Thug Bhar) at the conference hall of Pema Thang here.
The documentary consists testimonies of six Tibetan torture survivors’ including Golog Jigme, the monk who assisted Dhondup Wangchen in filming a documentary film titled Leaving Fear Behind (Jigdrel).
Tsering Gyamtso, one of the six Tibetans in the documentary said, “Chinese authorities use torture to make political prisoners like us useless in society after our release. They have it all planned to make life after prison useless. Therefore, after release my resolve to get a good education and to use my innate talents to the best of my ability became stronger than ever before. I will not let them succeed at their plans to make our life useless.”
The film screening was attended by representatives of various NGOs and independent filmmakers. The film was made by Abhishek Madhukar and Jean Lepcha under the centre’s production.
Talking to reporters, TCHRD’s Director Tsering Tsomo said, “On this day, we honour and support those who have suffered unjust, cruel and degrading forms of physical and mental torture.”
“In Tibet, torture is one of the key instrument with which the Chinese government deals with political dissidents who express views deemed as ‘subversive’. In Tibet, Tibetans engaging in peaceful forms of protest, such as expressing faith in the Dalai Lama and demanding human rights and freedom, are routinely arrested without any due process of law and tortured with impunity in many visible and invisible detention centers.”
This year’s theme of the International Torture Day is ‘Fighting Impunity’. Tsomo further said that the theme ‘Fighting Impunity’ is “relevant to the persistent problem of torture in Tibet where impunity for the perpetrator is common practice and torture goes unpunished.”
The right group aims to screen it at various human rights film festival for larger audience.
On 12 December 1997, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, with a view to the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Earlier this day, International Tibet Network and Students for a Free Tibet, India jointly carried out a photo campaign wherein Tibetans and supporters took selfies with a picture of Tulku Tenzin Delek and called for his quick release.
“This International Day Against Torture, we did a photo campaign where we asked people to take a selfies with Tulku Tenzin Delek’s picture and message. Since selfies have been trending in social media, and has a mass appeal, we used it as a tool to highlight Tulku Tenzin Delek’s critical situation as a victim of torture,” said Lobsang Tseten, Asia Coordinator of International Tibet Network. “There are many more prisoners of conscience in Tibet, who are subjected to inhumane torture simply for defending their freedom, and through this selfie photo action, we hope to raise awareness not only about Tulku Tenzin Delek, but the other Tibetan heroes as well.”
